On Tragedy

On Tragedy

Deseret News - Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Remembering, reliving Holocaust
"The world has not fully comprehended the need for mutual tolerance and respect," said Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch.

Deseret News - Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Utahns honor victims, heroes
...Rabbi Benny Zippel, executive director of the Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, said that the first step toward peace is the realization that every person is capable of evil, and to learn to conquer that evil.
"We must take lesson, take heed, from the events of 9/11/2001, and acknowledge the fact that there is a potential terrorist that could be concealed within each of us . . . ," he said. "The atrocities of 9/11/2001 must teach each and every one of us that arrogance, self-centeredness have no place in our lives." Some 75 people attended the Cathedral of the Madeleine Mass, many of them wearing red, white and blue and some wearing American flag pins, shirts and scarves. The theme was "peace, not retaliation."

Salt Lake Tribune - 11/05/1995
Utah Reacts: Let Vision of Peace Live On
...Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, an outreach ministry of the Hasidic Lubavitcher Movement, said ``It's very sad that it came from our own community.'' But Zippel warned against ``the assumption that [the assassination] is supported and endorsed by Jewish groups.'' In fact, the Torah expressly forbids violence, he said.
...Despite the sadness left by Rabin's assassination, Zippel chose to focus on the positive: ``a wish and a prayer that this will end altogether all the violence we have had in Israel, and that now there should be only peace and harmony.''

Salt Lake Tribune - 01/08/2000
How to Keep Holocaust From Fading
..."Many people in this day and age forget that by abandoning or overlooking their Jewish obligations and responsibilities, they are giving criminals like Hitler a posthumous victory," said Rabbi Benny Zippel of Salt Lake City's Orthodox Chabad Lubavich Bais Menachem synagogue.
"That should never happen," he added. "The Holocaust should most definitely be kept fresh in the minds of humanity in this next century, or for that matter, forever."
...Zippel also sees the hazard of "harping on how terrible the Holocaust was without in fact preventing it from happening again."
Still, silence is not the answer, either. Judaism maintains that "the only way to dispel darkness is by adding and increasing light," he said.
Zippel said Jews need to remember the Holocaust, but the best way of working to prevent future genocides is to educate "humanity in general about values, tolerance, religious pride and respect for fellow human beings."

Salt Lake Tribune - 09/11/2001
Utah Prayer Services Planned
...Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah said a rally that will include the Torah, Tefilla and Tzedaka will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at Bais Menachem, 1433 S. 1100 East in Salt Lake City.
"The Rebbe, based on teachings from the Torah, has always taught us to respond to tragedy with the three big T's of Judaism, Torah, Tefilah (Prayer) and Tzedakah (Charitable acts)," he said.

Salt Lake Tribune - 04/25/1998
Never Again: Holocaust Remembered
...The handful of children attending the service did not let the seriousness of the occasion escape them.
...Six-year-old Avremi Zippel, son of Rabbi Benny Zippel, said he has studied a book about the Holocaust.
``But I haven't heard that many stories,'' he said.

Salt Lake Tribune - 01/28/2002
Holocaust Survivor Files Claim
...For Rabbi Benny Zippel of Salt Lake City's Chabad Lubavitch Bais Menachem synagogue, it is a case of justice delayed.
"It is of crucial importance to restore these funds in the hands of people that have a legitimate ownership," he said, "rather than letting them sit in the coffers of the various banks and insurance companies."

Salt Lake Tribune - 09/12/2001
Local Churches Offer Solace
..."The Rebbe, based on teachings from the Torah, has always taught us to respond to tragedy with the three big T's of Judaism: Torah, Tefilah [Prayer] and Tzedakah [Charitable acts]," said Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch, which held an evening rally.

Salt Lake Tribune - 09/12/2002
Religious Leaders Offer Comfort to Utah Faithful
...The important lessons to be drawn from this tragedy are to "depart from evil and do good," Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah told a full house gathered at a multifaith commemoration at Abravanel Hall in downtown Salt Lake City.
"We need to acknowledge the potential terrorist in each and every one of us," Zippel said. "Arrogance and self-centeredness have no place in our lives."
Peace and security will come, he said, when "goodness is in abundance."

Salt Lake Tribune - 05/06/2000
Utahn Who Escaped Hitler Lights Candle to Remember Holocaust Victims
...Rabbi Benny Zippel of Salt Lake City's Bais Menachem synagogue said that, "None of us is immune to our prejudices. With only a little bit of fantasy and creativity, we can convince ourselves of falsehoods [and] reinforce prejudices."

Salt Lake Tribune - 10/18/1998
Lest We Forget
...It will be worth it, insists Rabbi Benny Zippel, spiritual leader of Salt Lake's Orthodox Jewish community, which he estimated is 200 families strong.
``It is very important to make a permanent record of this so the descendants of these people can have almost a first-hand idea of what their ancestors experienced,'' he said. ``It is my opinion that a bit of light has the power to dispel much darkness.''
Zippel added that he hoped the project also would encourage Jews to rediscover their faith.
``We have to stand proud of our Judaism. If we don't, we're giving the Nazis and Hitler a sort of posthumous victory,'' he said.

Deseret News - Saturday, April 17, 1999
Save Holocaust details, historian says
...Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch said Jews have a responsibility to make the world aware of the tragedies that occurred.

Deseret News - Saturday, April 25, 1998
Utahns of all faiths and races gather to remember Holocaust
...And to learn from events past means a commitment to act today, said Rabbi Benny Zippel from the Chabad Lubavitch of Utah.``Let all of us who are alive today make an active resolution to strengthen and solidify our Jewish pride, not to give the Nazis a posthumous victory,'' Zippel said at a commemoration of the Jewish Holocaust, held Friday at the Capitol Rotunda.